2004

Fancy Colored Diamonds Are Top Sales At December Auctions

Jan. 2004

At the December Sothebys and Christie's auctions, fancy colored diamonds were the top sales, though both houses were disappointed by important lots that did not sell.

Christie's top diamond sale was:
* A fancy intense blue diamond pendant that featured a pear-shaped 2.17-carat, natural color VS1 that sold for $220,300, or $101,520 per carat.

At Sotheby’s, meanwhile, large sales of colored diamonds included:
* A fancy vivid blue 5-ct. emerald cut VS2 that sold for $2,024,000, or $404,800 per carat.
* A fancy intense 12.9 carat internally flawless brilliant cut yellow diamond ring that sold for $220,800, or $17,054 per carat.

Not finding a buyer at Christie’s was:
* a 10.31-carat, D-color, internally flawless stone with an estimate of $320,000.

At Sotheby’s, the disappointment was the lack of a buyer for a very rare diamond pendant that featured several stones:
* a pear-shaped light blue 1.22-ct. diamond , natural color VS1; a round brilliant fancy gray ish blue 1.46-ct. diamond, natural color, VS2; a marquise fancy blue 1.44-ct. diamond, natu ral color, VS2; and a fancy green-blue 8.81-ct. briolette diamond weighing 8.81, natural color, SI2. The green-blue briolette was accompanied by a letter from GIA research, stating the rare nature of such a stone. The pre-sale estimate for the piece was up to $1.2 million.